What is burlesque? Shows, history and where to see it in the UK

A short history of burlesque

The word burlesque comes from the Italian burla, meaning a joke or a mockery, and that sense of fun has always been at its heart. In Victorian Britain, burlesque meant comic theatre that parodied serious plays, operas and classical stories, full of puns, songs and men and women playing against type. It sat comfortably alongside the music hall, with its mix of comic songs, sketches and variety acts.

When the form crossed the Atlantic in the late nineteenth century, American burlesque gradually added striptease to the comedy and variety, and by the early twentieth century the tease had become its best-known feature. It faded in the decades after the war, as tastes changed and venues closed.

The modern revival, usually called neo-burlesque, took off in the 1990s, with London and New York among its early centres. It brought back the costumes, the humour and the slow reveal, and added a strong streak of self-expression, body positivity and DIY creativity that still defines the scene today.

What a burlesque show is like

A typical show is a cabaret-style evening with a host, often called a compère, introducing a series of solo acts. Each performer has their own character, costume and music, and the act tells a little story that builds to a playful reveal. Performers usually finish in pasties, which are small decorative nipple covers, and knickers, so the emphasis is on the tease rather than nudity.

Expect plenty of comedy, spectacle and craft. Elaborate costumes, feather fans, glitter and vintage glamour are all common, and many shows also include singers, comedians, magicians or circus acts. Performers come in all shapes, sizes, ages and genders, and the audience is usually mixed, with plenty of groups of friends, couples and hen parties.

How burlesque differs from a strip club

Burlesque is a ticketed performance, much like a comedy night or a play. Everyone watches the same show from their seats, the performers are artists presenting work they've usually created themselves, and there's no physical contact, no private dances and no paying individual performers during the night.

A gentlemen's club works quite differently, with dancers performing for individual customers and charging per dance. Both are legal and both have their fans, but they're very different evenings out. Our guide to what to expect at a gentlemen's club explains how those venues work, and you can browse them in our gentlemen's clubs listings.

Etiquette at a burlesque show

Burlesque audiences are expected to be loud in the right way. Cheering, whooping and applauding as a glove or stocking comes off is part of the fun, and performers feed off that energy. What isn't welcome is crude heckling, shouting comments about bodies or trying to touch anyone.

Check the house rules on photos and filming, as many shows ban them to protect performers' privacy. Arrive on time, keep your phone away and don't talk through the acts. Many venues encourage dressing up, so a bit of vintage glamour is welcome but rarely required. Our general guide to etiquette and respect covers the same basic courtesy that applies across adult venues.

Ticket prices and where to see burlesque in the UK

Prices vary a lot, but as a rough guide, tickets for a UK burlesque show usually cost somewhere between about £15 and £60. Smaller nights in pubs and arts venues sit at the lower end, while big-name performers, dinner-and-show packages and premium seats in larger cities cost more. Always check what's included before you book.

You'll find burlesque in dedicated cabaret venues, theatres, comedy clubs and arts centres, as well as at club nights where it's part of a wider evening. It's also a regular feature of arts and music festivals across the country. Many cities have a local scene with regular nights, and some run beginners' classes if you'd like to try it yourself.

Shows are for adults, so expect to be asked for ID at the door, and some venues set a higher minimum age.